Fermi Paradox

From BurnZero

Fermi paradox in a nutshell
Figure 1. The Drake Equation: Given the size of the universe, extraterrestrial life should have contacted us (click to expand).

Life on earth has been around for 4 billion years and scientists think the infinite universe has been around for 14 billion. So when we look through our telescopes out to the rest of the universe, where everyone else?

If the universe is as scientists think, infinite, why have we not heard from life other than our own? Is it because it is inevitable that all life thrives and then dies because of some cosmic filter? Is it that there is a great barrier for all intelligent species which in it has tended towards only one answer? i.e. before reaching the point where interstellar communication is possible the civilisation destroys itself, whether this is from war, overconsumption or disease, the result is the same, looking at the sky it seems we see a dead universe. This is called the Fermi Paradox and is shown mathematically by the Drake Equation (Figure.1)

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